Search form

You are here

Access

Derby Theatre welcomes all customers and has an extensive range of services to ensure you have an enjoyable and comfortable visit. We are happy to show anyone around who would like to come and see the theatre during a quieter time to resolve any potential issues or concerns they may have in advance of their visit. Please contact Box Office on 01332 593939.

CredAbility & The Access Card

We are an accredited Provider and have been Verified as being an accessible venue for disabled people by CredAbility – an independent quality mark run by disabled people.

We are proud to be an accredited Provider with CredAbility and to be able to acknowledge the locally developed Access Card. We are committed to ensuring that we are able to remove, replace or reduce the impact of barriers faced by our disabled customers and welcome feedback.

The relevant icons indicate how we can meet a variety of needs:

Standing and Queueing

Derby Theatre has seating on all levels of the theatre and there are ushers there to assist in making your visit as comfortable as possible so please let us know your requirements. You can pre order your drinks, tickets, merchandise, ice creams and programmes when booking your tickets to avoid queuing. These can be brought to you when you arrive. Our staff can bring refreshments to your seat inside the auditorium at the interval. If you require specific seating in other areas then this can also be accommodated.

Wheelchair Access

We have a fully accessible drop off point at the top of the theatre with a permanent ramped double door entrance. Alternatively you can park in Intu Basement car park blue badge area and our lift will bring you directly to all floors of the theatre. We have large accessible toilets on all levels. We have low counters at the Bar, Box Office and Theatre Café. We have designated wheelchair spaces inside the auditorium so please mention your requirements when booking.

Short Distances

You can be dropped off outside the lift that runs from the basement car park, to level 1 where the Theatre Café and Box Office is, up to level 2 where the auditorium, restaurant and bar is situated. There is a short walk into the auditorium from the lift. Or alternatively you can be dropped off at our drop of point at the top of the theatre where there is a short distance into the auditorium. We can provide seating around the theatre for rest intervals if required.

Access to Toilets

Derby Theatre has large fully accessible toilets on every level of the theatre. If you require urgent access to the toilet because of an impairment / disability you can make this known to staff at any time and they will ensure that you are quickly pointed toward the nearest toilet with discretion and dignity. This can and will include both accessible toilets and staff toilets where necessary. Access Card holders need only to show their card with the WC symbol.

Assistance Dogs

Assistance dogs are welcome in all areas of the building. Please talk to the Box Office about any special requirements when booking.

Personal Support

We operate a scheme for those who require somebody to be present in order to assist them to readily access theatre shows and as such we allow members to buy a seat for themselves at the standard rate and one for an essential companion at no cost.*

An Access Card with the +1 symbol automatically entitles the cardholder to a free essential companion ticket.* If you do not have / do not want an Access Card you can register to join Derby Theatre's Assited Access Scheme below. Both schemes will require you sending in information to support your request for a free companion ticket and you are free to choose which one you feel meets your needs.

Access Cards can be purchased for £15 for 3 years from CredAbility. CredAbility is an independent scheme.

Derby Theatre's Assisted Access Scheme is free to join and a short application form is available from the box office or to download here for individualsand download here for organisations, providing us with contact details and any information the patron would like recorded. All tickets are subject to availability at the time of booking.

* This applies to most performances but there are some exceptions so please check on booking.

Difficulty Accessing Visual Information

Large Print BrochuresWe offer large print versions of our What's On brochures. If you would like to recieve our brochure in this formar please enquire at the Box Office.

Audio Described PerformancesIdeal for blind and partially sighted people, audio description is a form of audio-visual translation that uses the natural pauses in dialogue and critical sound elements to provide a live verbal commentary through a personal headset. All of Derby Theatre's in-house productions are audio described, as well as some touring productions.

Touch ToursA touch tour enables blind and partially sighted people to explore and familaries themselves with the stage, props and costumes before seeing a show. Touch Tours are free and take place 1 hour before an audio described performance starts. Please advise Box Office if you would like a touch tour when booking an audio described performance.

Difficulty Accessing Audible Information

Sound Enhancement and Assisted Listening SystemsThe best quality of sound is accessible through our brand new Digital RF headsets, which are available to borrow free from Box Office for use in both the main theatre and the studio. You could also take advantage of our new digital system by using your own earphones, to plug directly into the pocket-sized body packs.

If you prefer to use the T-switch on your hearing aid, please borrow an induction loop aerial, which is worn around the neck to enable this to work - these are also available from Box Office. Rather than infrared, our new assisted listening sets now work on digital RF frequencies, meaning you won’t get interference when someone walks in front of you or you turn away from the stage. We can also offer assisted listening on backstage tours.

BSL Interpreted PerformancesWe provide British Sign Language (BSL) interpreted performances for all Derby Theatre's in-house productions and some touring productions. Please let Box Office know where you would like to sit: directly in front of the interpreter or on the opposite side, looking across the stage/action.

Captioned PerformancesCaptioning converts spoken word into text and is presented on a screen at the side of the stage. Captioned performances are currently available for some touring productions in the studio. We are in the process of buying captioning equipment, which will enable us to caption Derby Theatre's in-house productions.

Some performances provide captioning using the Difference Engine - a tool that can be downloaded onto your smart phone or tablet prior to the show.

Please try to arrive 30 minutes before the show so that we have time to give clear instructions to each individual audience member

The captioning is streamed directly to your phone so we recommend that your mobile device is fully charged prior to the performance

There will be battery packs available for audience members whose phone is low on battery

This is not a replacement for BSL and we appreciate it will not be suitable for all d/Deaf audiences

Upcoming performances that use the Difference Engine are The Dead Sea and our performance festival Departure Lounge 2018.

Relaxed Performances

We offer relaxed performances that are aimed to appeal to audience members who are on the autistic spectrum or have sensory sensitivities, or those who would benefit from a more relaxed atmosphere as regards to making noise or moving around.

Each relaxed performance will be adapted for the specific needs of the audience – house lights may remain on at a low level throughout, other lighting effects will be toned down and the volume of sound effects reduced. Audience members will also be free to leave the auditorium during the performance and a ‘chill out’ area will be available.

Support materials such as a visual story and a synopsis of the production are made available before each relaxed performance. All of these adaptations are intended to make the theatrical experience less stressful for our patrons with specific needs.

Dementia Friendly Performances

Performances that are carefully tailored so people living with dementia and their families and carers can enjoy the magic of a festive theatre trip in a supportive environment.

We are already pretty laid back at Derby Theatre, but there will be a more relaxed attitude to leaving and re-entering the theatre and making noise, the house lights will be kept slightly on and there will be a quiet space available for use at any time before, during and after the show. There will also be plenty of our friendly staff available to offer assistance on the day too, including staff who are Dementia Friends.

Other Needs

If you have any other needs which we have not covered elsewhere in this statement please let us know so that we can do our very best to give you full and equal access to our services

Support Our Commitment to Access

Derby Theatre aims to ensure the widest access for all our customers. We have recently had grants from Derbyshire Community Foundation and The Big Lottery Fund to improve access for the hard of hearing. We are very keen to offer more services to more people with access requirements. If you would like to support this work please see our Donations page (link or contact our Development Officer, Paul Challacombe p.challacombe@derby.ac.uk. Any support you can give will help to ensure that more people can enjoy the creativity both on and off stage here at Derby Theatre.

If you do have any questions regarding access, parking or familiarisation tickets please do email us at theatretickets@derby.ac.uk.